Above the asuras come the celestial beings, ruled by Indra, the king of the heavens. The direct sons of Brahma, including King Daksa, prevail over Indra, and of Brahma's sons, Siva is the greatest. Since Siva is the son of Brahma, the latter is considered superior to him, but Brahma himself is subordinate to Me, the Supreme Lord.

However, since I Myself am favorable to learned sages, they are the greatest of all.

The different levels of spiritual elevation, from the smallest to the highest devotee.

Animate beings are superior to inanimate objects, and among them, those in which the signs of life are manifested are more evolved. As for animals endowed with developed consciousness, they are superior to them, and above them are beings endowed with developed sensory perception.

Among beings endowed with sensory perception, those with developed taste are superior to those with developed touch. But superior to them are those who can smell, and even superior to those who can hear.

Beings that can distinguish different forms are superior to those who perceive sounds. Superior to them are those with toothy jaws, and even higher are those with many legs. But superior still are quadrupeds, and above all, humans.

Among humans, those whose social organization is based on individual qualities and activities prevail over others, and within such a society, intelligent men, who are referred to as “learned sages,” are the most evolved. But one must also distinguish as the best among the learned sages those who have studied the Vedas (the original holy scriptures), and among them, the one who knows the true purpose of the Vedas is the highest.

However, above the sage who knows the purpose of the Vedas is the one who can dispel all doubts, and even better than this is the one who strictly adheres to spiritual principles. But even higher than this shines the soul freed from all material defilement. As for the pure devotee, who performs devotional service without expecting anything in return, he dominates them all.